Instant Replay: Phillies 7, Giants 3

Instant Replay: Phillies 7, Giants 3

A return to their home ballpark was just what the Phillies needed as they mercifully ended the season-worst eight-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Two-run homers from Carlos Ruiz and Michael Young along with a solid pitching outing from John Lannan helped the Phillies snap the skid and win their first game since July 19.

With the victory, the Phillies improved to 50-56 and remain 11½ games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.

Starting pitching reportLannan ended on an up note after struggling in his last outing in St. Louis last week. In seven innings, the lefty allowed three runs on seven hits and a pair of walks. Lannan struck out two hitters and produced 11 ground-ball outs.

The win sets Lannan’s record at 3-4 with a 4.02 ERA.

Giants lefty Barry Zito struggled with his command throughout his 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits and a pair of walks. Zito also allowed a homer and hit Kevin Frandsen on an 0-2 pitch.

Zito’s ERA on the road this season is 9.97.

Bullpen reportLefty Antonio Bastardo faced four hitters in a scoreless eighth inning before turning the game over to Justin De Fratus in the ninth.

De Fratus faced four hitters in the ninth to close it out in a non-save situation.

At the plateRuiz hit his first home run of the season. His last homer came on Sept. 25 of last season when he hit a three-run shot in a win over the Nationals. Michael Young belted his eighth homer of the season.

Ruiz’s homer was the first for a Phillie since July 20.

Michael Young went 2 for 3 with a walk to boost his batting average to .280. Delmon Young also had a pair of hits to go with an RBI, and John Mayberry Jr. also picked up a pair of RBIs with a single in the first inning and a double in the seventh.

The Giants scored a run in the first, added one to tie the game in the third and scored again in the seventh. First baseman Brett Pill picked up a pair of hits and Pablo Sandoval had two of the Giants’ RBIs.

Put him in the bookProspect Cody Asche made his major-league debut with a pinch-hitting appearance with two outs in the seventh inning. Asche, who was called up from Triple A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday (see story), popped out to second base on a 2-0 pitch.

Stuck at homeFor the first time this season, Darin Ruf failed to reach base safely. He had reached base in all 17 games he played this year and the final nine games of the 2012 season. In 30 career big-league games, Ruf has failed to reach base safely in just four games.

Up nextThe Phillies and Giants return to action on Wednesday night when Kyle Kendrick (9-7, 3.96) takes on right-hander Chad Gaudin (4-2, 2.77). Kendrick is 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA in six career appearances against the Giants. He last faced them on May 7 when he scattered six hits and had six strikeouts without a walk in a 6-2 victory.

Gaudin has never started a game against the Phillies, but he has nine appearances in relief in his 11 years in the big leagues. In 13 1/3 innings, Gaudin has allowed three runs and 10 hits with 11 strikeouts against the Phillies.

“We need someone who can play multiple positions in the infield on our bench and someone who can play multiple positions in our outfield on the bench. That’s a necessity.”

Kapler has taken a long look at Roman Quinn at shortstop the last two days. Quinn played four innings there Sunday against the Twins. He was there for the entire game Monday against the Red Sox.

Quinn grew up playing shortstop and outfield. He broke into pro ball as a shortstop but moved to center field during the 2014 season, when it became clear that J.P. Crawford was the shortstop of the future. Now, Quinn is relearning the shortstop position so he can potentially serve as a utility man on the Phillies’ bench. He’d be an intriguing talent to have on the bench because he’s a switch-hitter with electrifying speed.

As a shortstop, the Phillies won’t be looking for Quinn to be a Gold Glover. They need someone to make the play on an emergency or fill-in basis. Quinn made three plays in Monday’s game. He short-hopped one throw and Carlos Santana made the pick. He knocked down one ball, recovered and made a strong throw for an out. He made a nice play on a groundball while shifted behind second. It wasn't the prettiest exhibition, but it got the job done.

“The more I play there, the more comfortable I’m getting,” Quinn said. “I’m enjoying it. I’d like to think I can play any position. It’s fun coming in from center field and playing shortstop. I love it.”

Quinn turns 25 in May. Some schools of thought might come down against carrying a player of his potential as a reserve. Certainly, more time in Triple A would not hurt him, especially after missing more than three months with an elbow injury last year. But the Phillies are open to the possibility of carrying Quinn. His shortstop audition the last two days has made that clear.

“Everyday reps at the minor-league level are incredibly valuable,” Kapler said. “However, because a guy is on the bench at the major-league level doesn’t mean his development is stunted. He’s getting a different kind of experience and a really valuable experience.”

Tom Eshelman was charged with four runs in the bottom of the ninth as the Phils squandered a three-run lead and lost, 6-5, to Boston.

Aaron Altherr drove in four runs. He belted a three-run homer in the fifth inning against Boston ace Chris Sale. Cesar Hernandez grinded out a long at-bat before striking out and Santana and Rhys Hoskins both walked before the home run.

“When you have a guy like Sale, making him work is critical,” Kapler said. “Cesar’s punchout was an incredible at-bat. Santana and Hoskins made him work. [Sale] gets a little fatigued and Altherr gets a pitch to whack. So Altherr hitting a home run doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens as a result of team baseball.”

Jake Arrieta is ready for game action; Mark Leiter Jr. is hurting

Jake Arrieta is ready for game action; Mark Leiter Jr. is hurting

The good: Jake Arrieta will make his first Grapefruit League appearance of the spring when he gets the start Thursday against the Detroit Tigers in Clearwater.

Arrieta signed with the Phillies a week ago and threw a simulated game Saturday (see story). He will throw a side bullpen session Tuesday then be ready for Thursday’s start. It's still not clear when he will make his regular-season debut. Arrieta believes he will be ready to pitch during the first week of the season. Phillies management is taking a long-range view and will exercise caution in turning him loose. Either way, Arrieta projects to make 30 or more starts once he’s ready.

Now, the bad news:

Pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. headed to Philadelphia for tests on his right forearm. Leiter has been experiencing some tightness and soreness in the forearm, according to manager Gabe Kapler.

This is tough news for Leiter, who early in camp had impressed management with his performance and ability to pitch in a starting or relief role. Ten days before opening day, it’s likely that Leiter will have to open the season on the disabled list.

Starter Jerad Eickhoff will open the season on the DL with a right lat strain. It is not considered serious, but he is projected to be out into May.